Filling and capping machine



. July 2, 1929- M. YGOLDBERGER I 1.719.222

FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed April 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet m 7' F Q Jul 2, 1929.

M. GOLDBERGER FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 2' y 1929 M. GOLDBERGER .719. 2

FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1925' 'r Sheets-Sheet 5 B/ M. G LDBERGER 1.719.222

FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE Filed pri 17, 1925 1 Sheets-Sheet 4 i 1929- M. GOLDBERGER I 1.719.222

FIIJLING AND CAPPING MACHIRE Filed April l7, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 2, 1929. M. GOLDBERGER 1,719,222

FILLING AND GAPPING MACHINE l April 17, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet s July 2, 1929. GOLDBERGER I 1.719.222

FILLING AND CAPPING MACHINE FiledApril 17, 192.5 7 Sheets-Sheet Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAURICE GOLDBERGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FILLING Ann cnrrme MACHINE.

, Application filed April 17, 1925. Serial No; 23,824.

This invention relates to improvements in filling and capping machines particularly adapted though not necessarily limited in its use, for filling and capping milk bottles, and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this character in which there is provided means adapted to feed the bottles to the filling and capping mechanism, and from which machine the bottles may be freely removed from any position during the operation of the machine, particularly during the filling of the bottles.

A further object is to provide in a'machine of this character improved spider like feed ing and receiving elements, thefeeding element to cent 'alize the bottle accurately with respect to the filling and capping mechanism, the removing element extending for a considerable distance around the bottle and operating to hold the bottle during the filling and capping operations, both of the said elements being freely removable and interchangeable with other like elements adapted for feeding and centralizing bottles of varying diameters and capacities.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this charactercontinuously traveling conveyors and intermittently operating bottle handling elements, one of which elements operates upon the empty bottlesto feed and centralize them with respect to the filling and capping mechanism, and the other of which elements removes the filled and capped bottles and delivers them to one of theconveyors to be conveyed away, and improved means for intermittently and successively removing the empt bottles from one of the conveyors and pfhcing them in aposition to be engaged by one of the bottle handling elements, the said removing means also operat- M ing as a stop to arrest the advancing movement of the empty bottleson the supply conveyor, the said removing element operating to place the filled and cappedbottles upon one of the conveyors.

A further object is to provide an iniproved machine of this character which will be are comparatively simple construction with a compact arrangement of parts, and in which machine the filling, capping and removal of the bottles from the machine will take place at substantially the same point in the machine, the capping taking place at the next step in the intermittent advancement of the bottle after being filled, thereby reducing to a minimum possibility ct any foreign matter entering the bottle between the filL ing and capping stations in the machine.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment ofother new and useful ob jects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved a machine of this character constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention, and as taken on line 11, Figure 2, and with parts omitted.

Figure 2 is a sectional view as taken on line 22, Figure 4. a

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine taken from the right hand side of Figure 1, and with parts in section.

Figure l is a sectional View taken on line 4 l:, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail top plan view, with parts in section and parts broken away, of the conveyors andthe feeding and removal elements for the bottles.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6, Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a detail top plan view of one of the bottle feeding elements for handling bottles of a. smaller size.

Figures 8 and '9 are top plan views of bottle handling elements for handling bottles of one size.

Figures 10 and 11 are views similar to Figures 8 and 9 respectively of the bottle han' dling elements for handling bottles of a different size. a

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 15 designates generally a base preferably supported for some distance above the floorby means of a suitable sup port 16. An upright 17 is mounted upon the base in a suitable bearing and projects for a suitable distance above the base and is held against rotation with respect to the base in any suitable manner. A supporting member againstdisplacement with respect to the upright 17 by means of a cap or member 21 recessed into the upper face of the member tles are to be filled, and which liquid is dis pensed through suitablefilling mechanism 2 1.

The container 23 is adjustably supported upon the member 18 in any suitable manner, preferably through the medium of telescoping members 2526, the member 25 being mounted upon the member 18 and the mem ber 26 being connected with the bottom of the container 23. The member 25 is provided with a bearing 27 interiorthereof in which a shaft 28 is rotatably mounted, one end of the shaft 29 is threaded and engages into a threaded portion 30 of the member 26. A gear 31 is connected with the shaft 28 and this gear meshes with another gear 32 carried by a shaft 33. The ends of the shaft 33 are preferably shaped as at 34: to receive a crank, by means of which the shaft 33 may be rotated.

\Nhen this shaft is rotated the threaded end 29 of the shaft 28 co-operating with the threaded. portion 30 of the member 26, will cause the members 25 and 26 t0 be relatively adjusted so as to raise or lower the container 23 with respect to the member 18. A slot 35 may be provided in'the member 26 and a pin or bolt36 may be connected with the member 25 to move in the slot 35 so as to maintain the members 25 and 26 in proper relative position and to guide them in their relative movement.

:The .endof the member 26 may be spilt as at 37 and a clamping bolt or element38 may i be provided for clamping the end of the memher 26 about themember 25 to retain the parts in their relative adjusted positions. The

. member 25 may be provided with graduations or indications 39 with which a portion 410 of themember 26 co-operates for indicating the adjustments, necessaryto compensate the dif ferent sizes of bottles to be filled. I

The member 18 is adapted to be intermittently rotated in any desired or suitable manner but preferably through the medium of a Geneva movement, one of the Geneva members tlof which is secured in any suitable manner to the member 18 beneath the top i thereof,the other Geneva member 412 which ce-operates therewith, being secured to an upright shaft 43 j'ournaled in a suitable hearing 44 carried by the base 15. This shaft 13 projects for any desired distance beneath the base 15 and has secured to it a gear 45, preferably of the spiral type. With this gear -15 another gear 46 meshes and this gear 16 is connected with a shaft 47 which extends across and beneath the base and is mounted in suitable bearings. The shaft 17 receives its motion from a suitable source such as a motor 18 mounted upon the base and which motor is connected preferably through the medium of intermediate gearing 4-5) with a gear 50 which is secured to the shaft 17 so that when the shaft 17 is rotated an intermittent rotation will be imparted to the member 18 through the medium of the geneva -12-l-1.

Carried by the member 18 are a plurality of bottle supports 51 for receiving the bottles and presenting them to the filling and capping mechanism, any munber of which supports may be employed, and as the construction and operation of each of these supports is the same, the description of one will apply to them all. The support embodies a platform upon which the bottle rests and this platform is preferably elongated so that the bottle may be properly positioned thereon and moved t-herealong and with respect thereto. An upright 52 projects below the platform and is movable in asuitable guide or bearing 53 carried by the member 18. An upright 541 is connected with the upright 52 preferably through the medium of a shoulder 55 through which one extremity of the upright 52 passes. The lower end of the upright 52 is preferably reduced in diameter to form a shoulder 56 which co-operates with the shoulder 55 and against which shoulders the respective ends of an elastic member 57, such as a coil spring, rest, the spring extending into the bearing and forms a cushion for the bottle while the latter is being presented to the filling mechanism.

Connected with the upright 5:1; is a roller 58 which is adapted to travel upon a track 59 of a cam shaped formation so that when the member 18 is rotated the roller 58 will traverse the track 59 and the bottle support 51 will be raised and lowered according to the portion of the track upon which the roller 58 is traveled. The track is supported by the base 15 and may be secured thereto and by means of suitable fastening devices (it).

If desired a member 61 may be provided along predetermined portions of the track 5!) beneath which a projecting extremity 62 of the axle of the roller 58 passes, aml said member 61 serves as a means for positively drawing down or lowering the bottle support 51.

The bottles to be filled and capped may be supplied to the machine from any suitable source such as from a washing machine designated generally by the reference numeral (33, and are delivered onto a continually traveling conveyor 64: of any suitable construction,

and from which conveyor the bottles are adapted to be removed at a point in proximity to the path of rotation of the bottle supports a 51. Another continuously traveling conveyor is provided for receiving the filled and capped bottles and for conveying them away. The conveyors 64 and 65 are preferably arranged to travel in directions transverse to each other, and between the conveyors and the rotatable bottle supports 51 are arranged the bottle feeding and bottle removing mechanism. A supporting member or table 66 is provided for receiving the bottles from the conveyor 6d, and from which support 66 the bottles are removed to the conveyor 65. The surface of the support 66 is flush with the tops of the conveyors 64C and 65 and also flush with theitops of the bottle supports 51 when the latter are in their lowermost positions.

A rotatable spider like element 67 is provided for receiving the bottles from the conveyor 64: and delivering them to the bottle supports 51. This element 67 is provided with a series of arms or portions 68 which are of a semicircular configuration, and the member 67 is removably connected with an upright shaft 69 journaled in suitable bearings preferably in the supporting member or table 66 and the base 15. The member is removably secured to the shaft 69 preferably by means of a pin or projection 7 O which projects into an aperture 71 in the member 67. The shaft 69 is so disposed with respect to the bottle supports 51 that when the bottle supports are lowered and the shaft 69 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, the arms or portions68 will pass over the loottle supports 51 to move the bottles from the supporting surface or table 66 on to the bottle supports 51. A guard 72 is provided adjacent the path of movement of the arms 68 so as to prevent the bottle from being displaced when the member 67 is rotated and one of the arms 68 contacts with the bottle.

The bottles are ejected from the conveyor 6 1 preferably by means of a reciprocating arm 73 which is pivotally supported as at 7 f upon a slide 75. One extremity of the arm 73 is deflected as at76 and serves as a stop for arresting .the bottles as they are advanced by the conveyor 64. and without interfering with the traveling movement of the conveyor 64. The other extremity of the arm 73 is provided with a projection 77 which co-operates with a stop 78, and an arm 79 is also connected with the arm 73 to project beyond the other side of the pivot 74. A spring 80 is adjustably connected by one extremity to the arm 79 and is anchored by its other extremity to the slide ?5, the latter being adapted to'be reciprocated upon the guide 81.

In the normal position, the arm 73 assumes the position shown in Figure 1 that is to one side of the conveyor 64. When. the bottle assumes a position on the conveyor to be engaged the arm 73 when the latter is moved forwardly to eject the bottle on to the table or support 66 the end 7 6 of the arm will move into the path of the advancing movement of the bottles on the conveyor 64 and arrest their movement while the movement of the conveyor will not be interfered with.

The tension of the spring 80 on the arm 79 is such that the arm 73 may be moved for wardly under normal conditions to eject one of the bottles from the conveyor 64 but in the event of any abnormal condition such as the bottles becoming jammed, the-arm 73 will yield and will turn about the pivot 7%.

Any suitable means may be provided for rechprocating the arm 78 and the slide 75 such as an arm 82 connected at one end to a rock shaft journaled in suitable bearings 8 1. The arm 82 is provided with a slot 85 for receiving a pin or lug 86 on the slide 75. An arm 87 is also connected with the rock shaft 83 and a link 88 is connected by one end as at 89 with thearm 87 and by the other end to a crank 90, and which c 'ank 90 is connected with the shaft 17 for rotation therewith. Thus it will. be seen that when the shaft 4.7 is rotated the shaft 83 will be rocked and the slide 7 5 will be given a forward and backward reciprocating movement.

When the bottle is engaged by the arm 73 and is ejected from the conveyor 6d it will be moved upon the table or support 66 (sce Figure 1) and in a position to be engaged by the advancing arm 68 of the member 67. The arms 68 being semi-circular in shape are constructed on a radius to receive the bottle and to extend partially therearoui'id. As the arm 68 advances it will engage the bottle and the guard 72 co-operating with the arm will cause the bottle to be properly positioned with respect to the arm so that when the arm moves the bottle off of the table or platform 66 on to the bottle support 51, the bottle will be contralized with respect to the filling mecl'ianism.

The member 67 is adapted to be intermittently rotated and operates in timed relation with the rotation of the bottle supports 51.

Motion is imparted to the shaft 69 from the shaft 17 (see particularly Figure i through the worm or spiral gears l.6-i5, shaft 43 and gear 91 (see also 11 igures E2 and 3) which is carried by the shaft 43. This gear 91 meshes with a gear 9:2 carried by a shaft 93 (see also Figure 6) to which shaft is connected an arm 9 tforming one of the elements of at Geneva movcn'ient. The other element 95 of thegeneva is connected with a shaft 96 which is journaled in a suitable hearing 97 on the base 15 and a bearing 98 car-- ried by a bracket 99 which is disposedbeneath the base 15 and in which bracket 99 the shaft 4L3 is journaled.

Connected also with the shaft 96 for rotation with the Geneva element 95 is a gear 100,

which gear in turn meshes with a gear 101 connected with a shaft 109 for rotatio A .re-

with. The shaft 102 is journaled in suitable bearings in the base and in the supporting member or table 66. The gear 101 in turn meshes with a gear 103, connected with the shaft 69. I

Thus it will be seen that the shaft 69 carryingthe element67 will be given an intermittent rotation, and as the Geneva element 95 is a four-step movement, four steps of movement will be given to the shaft 69 and member 67 on each complete rotation of the shaft 69, and a similar motion will be given to the shaft 102.

The geneva comprising the elements 41 and 42 which control the intermittent rotation of the member 18 and the bottle supports 51 havingan eight-step movement, the member 18 will be given eight-steps of movement during one complete revolution 7 thereof.

The member 18and the bottle supports 51 are intermittently rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1, while the shafts 69 and 102 with the bottle handling mechanism thereon, are given intermittent steps of rotation in directions in opposition to each other, and as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1.

Removably connected Withthe shaft 102 is a bottle handling or removing element 101,

' 7 similar to the element 67, and is provided with arms 105 of a semi-circular conligura tion adapted to pass over the bottle supports 51 when the shaft 102 is rotated to engage the bottles and move the filled bottles from the support 51 onto the table or support 66 in a position to receive the caps. 1

The arms 105 being of a semi-circular configuration, extend for a considerable distance about the bottle and operate as a means for holding the bottle while it is being capped. The element 10tis removably secured to the shaft 102 in a manner similar to the manner :in which the element 67 is secured to the shaft 69, thatis through the medium of a pin 70 carried by a collar secured to the shaft r on in Figure 1, and the elements 67 and 104 are also intermittently rotated in opposite I directions with respect to each other and also with respect to the intermittent rotation of the element 18 and bottle supports 51, so that during the intermittent movement of the element 18 and bottle supports 51., the elements 67 and 104 will remain at rest, and

- during the intermittent rotation of the elements 67 and'lO t the element 18 and bottle supports; 51 'will remain at rest.

position to each other, the element 67 operatingto place the empty bottle upon the adj'acent bottle support 51 and to centralize it The ele. I ments 67 and 10 1 rotate in unison and in op- 51 and places the same in position to receive a cap during one step of intermittent rotation of the element 104:. Upon the next step of rotation of this element the tilled and capped bottle is shifted from the capping station and delivered to the conveyor 05 to be conveyed away.

It will be noted that during the cappil'lg of the bottle one of the arms 105 remains in contact therewith and serves as a means for assisting in holding the bottle while it is being capped.

The caplnng mechanism may be of any desired and suitable constriu-tion designated generally by the reference numeral 100 (see particularly Figure 3) and is adapted to be vertically reciprocated so as to move the same into an operative position with respect to the bottle when the latter is placed thereunder and to elevate the mechanism to permit the removal of the bottle. This may be accomplished preferably by means of a member 107 in the form of an upright which moves in a suitable guide or bearing 108 (see particularly Figures 3 and 41-) and the member 107 is adapted to be reciprmated by means of a suitable link 109 which is connected with the member 107 and also with a crank 110 secured to a shaft 111, journaled in suitable bearings beneath the base 15, and which shaft 111 receives its motion through the medium of a gear 112, preferably of the bevel type, secured to the shaft 111, and which gear meshes with a similar gear 113 secured to the shaft 47 for rotation therewith. Obviously the connections between. the reciprocating member 107 of the capping mechanism and the shaft 47, is such that it will operate the capping mechanism in timed relation with respect to the placing and removal of the filled bottle with respect to the capping mechanism.

In order to compensate for varying sizes or heights of bottles, the capping mechanism 100 is adj ustably mounted upon the reciprocating member 107 so as to be vertically adjusted with respect thereto. This may be accomplished by means of a collar 111 which encompasses the member 107 and which collar carries a gear or pinion 115, which meshes with a rack or teeth 11.6 on the member 107, the gear or pinion being rotatable preferably through the medium of a handle 117. Indications 118 may be provided on the member 107 with which a portion of the collar 111 may co-operate so as to indicate the extent of adjustment of the capping mechanism. Any suitable means may be provided for looking or securing the capping n'leehanism in its adjusted position with respect to the member 107, such as a binding screw or member 119.

Vhen the filled bottle is removed from the bottle support 51 and into a position to be operated upon l) the capping mechanism the bottle will be moved and positiomnl upon a yieldable support 120, paeferabiy one lit] support 120.

cuslnenmg device for the bottle when being bodyin a platform depending beneath which is a stem 121 which passes through a suitable. I

guide 122 supported by any portion ofthe mechanism, preierably the support or table '66. Tlhe lower end of the stem 121is preferably threaded as at 123 to receive nuts or collars 12 1 and a coiled spring125 encompasses the stem 121 above the guide 122, one end of the spring engaging the guide and the other end engagingthe bottom of the platform or The spring 125 serves as a operated upon by the cz ipping mechanism,

thereby resiliently supportingthe bottle and, the resilient element is centrally disposed beneath the bottle andalso serves to compensate variations in the heights of the bottles or capacities, and prevents breaking of the bottle by the capping mechanism. Obviously a stronger or weaker cushioning element 125 may be provided when desired.

As soon as the capping mechanism is raised to release the bottle the element 104: will remove the filled and capped bottle from the platform or support 120 and will place it upon the conveyor 65.

Motion imparted to the conveyors from any suitable source, not shown. a

The bottle inserting and removmgelements 67 and 10s. as shown are of asimilar size, that is they are adapted to handle bottles ofone size and of the largest capacity. Nhen, howa ever, it is deslred to handle bottles of a difierent size the elements 67 and 104 may be readily removed by hitting them from their respec tive shafts, and other elements such as the elements .126 and 127 respectively interchanged lor. The respective arms 128-429 of these elements 126-127 are of a semi-circular shape but the diameter of the bottle engaging portions thereof are of a size to permit a smaller bottle to be engaged thereby so that while the element 126 is placing the bottle in position upon the bottle support 51, they will centralize the bottle .withrespect to'the filling mechanism, and while the element 127 is shifting the bottle from the filling station to the cappin p and hold it while being capped and then remove the same to the conveyor 65. p j a 'The arm 73 (see particularly Figures land 5) which operates as an ejector for, removing the empty bottles from the conveyor 64 and placing them in a position to be engaged by the respective receiving elements 67 or 126,

and which arm also arrests the advancing movement of the bottles on the conveyor 64, is of such a size and construction that it will handle bottles of different size and capacities withoutnecessitating the separate adjustment of the arm 7 3 or the interchanging thereof with another arm. This is accomplishedby reason of thefact that the distance between the end of the arm 73 and a stop 130 (see Figures 1, 5 and 7) arranged to arrest theater g station it will encompass the bottle ward movement of the emptybottles on the conveyor before biiingkmerated upon by the arm 73, is of a length to remove from the conveyor 64 bottles of the smallest diameter.

If desired and when smaller bottles are beingfed upon the conveyor 64: (see particularly Figure '1') a suitable guide 131 may be adjustably secured along one side of the corn veyor Get by means of suitable adjusting devices "llhis guidc 1311nay be positioned to extend over a portion of the conveyor 6 1 so as to cause the empty bottles 133 of the smaller size to be maintained in alinement upon, the conveyor 64 and while being advanced thereby.

It is thouglitthat the operation of this apparatus willbe clearly understood from the foregoing description, but briefly stated it is as follows (particular reference being had to Figures 1, 2 and 3). i

The empty bottles are fed in any suitable manner from the washing inachine 63 onto the conveyor 64;, and which conveyor (Sat together with vthe conveyor 65 are continually movingf The bottles are advanced. by the conveyor 64 unt1l the foremost bottle engages the stop-130, at which time the conveyor 641 will. continue to move whilethe motion of the bottles will be arrested. The arm 73 is then operated to move the foremost bottle from the conveyor 6 1 ontothe supportor table (36 andiin a position that it will be engagcdby the adjacent arm 68 of the intcrmittently rotating element (37. The element 67 moves in the direction indicated bythe arrow and will eventually place and centrahze one be at rest. WVhilethe arm 73 is ejecting the bottle from the conveyor 64, the portion 76 of the arm will serve as a stopfor the next adjacent bottle. The arm 73 is then moved back to the position shownin Figure 1 to permit the bottles to be advanced and another bottle to be placed in position to be ejected upon the next movement of the arm.

After the bottle is placed upon the support 51 and the elements 67 and 104i areiat rest,an

intermittentstep of rotation is imparted to the member 18 and the bottle supports 51 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig ure .1. During the intermittent rotation of the bottle supports 51 they will be raised through the medium of the cam track 59 so that the filling mechanism will be inserted in the bottles and the filling mechanism, to gether with the container 23 will rotate with the bottles until the bottles. are brought into a position to be engaged by the arms 105 of the element 104.

During this filling operation it will be manifest that the bottles will remain closed by the filling mechanisms. As the bottles approachthe element 104 they Will be lowered from the filling mechanism, and if the memmer 61 is employed it will assist in the lowering of the bottle support.- The filling mechanism will disengage the reciprocating bottles when the-bottle support 51 has reached its lowermost movement, and upon the next step pof rotation of the bottle supports 51 the foremost filled bottle Will be engaged by the arm 105 of the member 104 to be moved from the bottle support 51 and upon the yieldable support 120 and in a position'to be operated upon by the capping mechanism 106. v

When released by the capping mechanism the arm .105, which remains in engagement with the bottle during the eapping, will upon the next step of intermittent rotation of the element10 l remove the bottle from the capmay be readilydepressed to permit such re- Y moval of the bottle Without interfering with the operation of the other bottles and mechanisin and without necessitating the stopping of they machine, and without wasting the milk.

While the. preferred form of the invention has been hereinshown and described it is to be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several 7 parts, Within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 2- V 1. A machine of the character described including an intermittently rotative bottle support, intermittently rotative means for delivering a bottle directly toand positioning the same uponthe support, and intermittently rotative means for removing the bottle from the support, both of the said means operating simultaneously and alternately with respect to the intermittent movement of the bottle support and shaped to constitute the sole positioning means for the bottle.

2. Amachine of thecharacter described ineluding an intermittently rotative bottle sup port, intermittently rotative means for delivering bottles directly to and positioning the same upon the support, and intermittently rotative means for removing the bottles from the support, the said means being disposed in close proxlmlty to each other and simultaneously rotatmg 1n opposite directions, the said means and the said bottle support operating alternately with respect to each other.

3. A machine of the character described including a continuously operating conveyor, filling mechanism, an intermittently movable bottle support, intermittently operating mechanism intermediate the conveyor and support, and means for successively ejecting the bottles from the conveyor and for placing them in a position to be engaged and deli'vered by the said mechanism directly upon the said support, the last said mechanism and support rotating in opposil e directions to and alternately with respect to each other, the last said mechanism also operating upon the bottles while upon the support to centralize them with respect to the filling mechanism.

4. machine of the character described including a plurality of contimiously operating conveyors, an intermittently movable bottle support intermediate the conveyors, intermittently operating means intermediate the support and one of the conveyors :lor delivering the bottles from the last said conveyor and positioning the same upon the support, and intermittently operating means between the support and the other of the conveyors for delivering the bottle from the support to the lastsaid conveyor, both of the said, means operating in unison and altermllely with respect to the said supportand each shaped to constitute the sole means for respectively positi onin g the bottles.

5. A machine of'the character described in cluding a plurality of continuously operating conveyors, an intern'iittentl y movable bottle support intermediate the conveyors, intermittently operating means intermediate the support and one of the conveyors 'lor delivering the bottles from the last said conveyor to the support and shaped to constitute the sole means for positioning the bottle upon the support, and intermittently operating means between the support and the other o l the couveyors for delivering the bottle from the support to the last said conveyor, the said means operating simultaneously and in opposition to each other, the said means and the said support operating alternately with respect to each other.

6. A machine of the character described in cluding an intermittently movable bottle support, an intermittently rotative interchangeable bottle handling element for delivering the bottles to the support, an intermittentlv and interchangeably mounted rotative element for removing the bottles from the support, said elements simultaneously operating and in opposite directions to each other, the said elements and the bottle support being operable alternately with respect to each other, the said elements constituting the sole means for positioning the bottle upon the support.

7. A filling and capping machine including filling and capping mechanism, an intermittently movable bottle support, an intermittently rotative interchangeable bottle handlin g element for dcliverin g the bottles to the support, an intermittently rotative interchangeable element for removing the bottles from the support, said elements simultaneously operating and in opposition to each other, the said elements and the bottle support being operable alternately with respect to each other, the first recited element constituting the sole means to centralize the bottles on the support with respect to the filling mechanism and the second recited element being shaped to assist in holding the bottle during the capping operation.

8. A machine of the character described inclu ding an intermittently rotative bottle support, a continuously operating conveyor, an intermittently rotative bottle handling element intermediate the support and conveyor, a stationary support, filling mechanism, means operating to successively eject the bottles from the conveyor to the stationary sup port and into a position to be placed and centralizecl solely by the said element upon the support and with respect to the filling inecln anism, said ejecting means operating to arrest the advancing movement of the bottles by the conveyor, and an intermittently rot tive element for removing the bottles from the support, the said elements operating simultaneously and in opposite directions to each other, the said elements and the said support operating alternately.

9. A filling and capping machine including filling and capping mechanism, an intermittently rotative bottle support, an intermittently rotative bottle h andling element for re cciving and placing the bottles upon the support and constituting the sole means for centralizing them upon the support With respect to the filling mechanism, and an intermittently rot-ative element for removing the bottle from the support and directly from the filling mechanism to the capping mechanism, the last recited element being shaped to assist in holding the bottle during the capping operation.

10. A filling and capping machine including filling and capping mechanism, an intermittently rotative bottle support, an intermittently rotative bottle handling element for receiving and placing the bottles upon the support and constituting the sole means for centralizing them upon the support with respect to the filling mechanism, an intermittently rotative element for removing the bottle from the support and directly from the filling mechanism to the capping mechanism, and a con veyor for conveying away the capped bottle,

the last recited element also operating to move a the capped bottle directly from the capping mechanism on to the conveyor.

11. A filling machine including a continuously operating conveyor for the bottles, an

intermittently rotativebottle support, an in termittently rotative bottle handling element intermediate the conveyor and support, a resilient ejector for successively removing the bottles from the conveyor and placing them into the path of movement of the said element to be engaged thereby, said element and supportbeing alternately movable, said element also being shaped to constitute the sole means for centralizing the bottle upon the support With. respect to the filling n'iechanism.

12. A filling machine including a continuously operating conveyor tor the bottles, an in termittently rotative bottle support, an intermittently rotative bottle handling element intermediate the conveyor and support, said element being removable and interchangeable with other elements for handling difiierent sized. articles an d. while the remaining parts of the feedng mechanism remain intact, a resilient ejector for successively removing the bottles from the conveyor and placing them into the path of movement of the said element to be engaged thereby, said element and support being alternately movable, said element also being shaped to constitute the sole means to centralize the bottle upon the support with respect to the filling mechanism.

13. A filling machine including a continuously operating conveyor for the bottles, an intermittently rotative bottle support, an in tcrmittently rotative bottle handling element intermediate the conveyor and support, an ejector for successively ejecting the bottles from the conveyor and into a position to be engaged by the said element, the latter being shaped to constitute the sole means for contralizing the bottles upon the said support with respect to the filling mechanism, said element and support being alternately op erating, and means permitting said ejector to yield under abnormal conditions.

ll. A filling machine including a continuously operating conveyor for the bottles, an

intermittently rotative bottle support, an intermittently rotative bottle handling element intermediate the conveyor and support, means adapting said element for interchange with additional elements While the remaining parts of the feeding mechanism remain intact, whereby different size bottles may he handled by the machine, an ejector for ejecting the bot tlcs from the conveyor and into a position to be engaged by the said element, said element being shaped to constitute the sole means for centralizing the bottles upon the said'support with respect to the filling mechanism, said element and support being alternately operating, and means permitting the ejector to yield under abnormal conditions.

15. A machine of the character described including filling mechanism, an intermittently rotatable bottle carrier and support, capping mechanism adjacent the path of movement of the support, a stationary support beneath the capping mechanism, intermittently rotatable elements for respectively feeding 4 the bottles to and from the rotatable support,

upon the said stationary support with respect to the said capping mechanism.

7 16. A machine of the character described including filling mechanism, an intermittently rotatablebottle carrier and support, capping mechanism adjacent the path of movement of the support, a stationary support beneath the capping mechanism, intermittently rotatable elements for respectively feeding the bottles to and from the rotatable support, one of the said elements constituting the sole means for removing the bottle from the rotatable support and for centralizing the bott le upon the said stationary support with respect to the said capping mechanism and for holding the last said bottle during the capping operation. 7

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, on this 16th day of April, A. D. 1925.

MAURICE GOLDBERGER. 

